Wicked musical broke sales records for the Fort Myers performing arts hall in March 2009 and sold out nearly all of its three-week run. The first week, alone, grossed about $1.2 million – a record that wouldn’t be broken until “Jersey Boys” came to town in 2010 and grossed $1.3 million.

Set in Oz before the arrival of Dorothy and Toto, “Wicked” tells the story of Glinda, the so-called “good witch,” and her green-skinned friend Elphaba, who will one day grow up to become the notorious “Wicked Witch of the West.” The show features hummable songs such as “Defying Gravity” and plenty of Big Broadway spectacle, including a giant wizard’s head, flying monkeys and soaring witches on brooms. The story explores female friendship as well as themes such as conformity, morality and hypocrisy. Glinda – who begins “Wicked” as a fashion snob with a high opinion of herself – gradually learns how to be a better person from her nemesis-turned-best friend, Elphaba.

Marilyn Caskey plays Madame Morrible, the eccentric and ambitious headmistress of Shiz University. She’s been with the tour for most of the past three years since it opened in Fort Myers in March 2009. Madame Morrible, the “Head Shizstress,” as Caskey calls her, tosses the witches together as roommates, an action that changes the course of history in Oz. She’s also a mover and shaker in the country’s power structure.

Audiences love “Wicked” in part for the show’s extravagant set and gorgeous costumes. Caskey gets to wear some of these herself. She spends 45 minutes each night doing her own hair and makeup, then requires a dresser to help her into the elaborate gowns.

“It’s really been a phenomenon,” says actress Anne Brummel, who plays the bullied, green-skinned witch Elphaba in the touring show. “Everywhere we go, we seem to be breaking some record somewhere.” Brummel laughs. “I think we’re doing OK. I think we’re a hit.”

Brummel says the iconic Elphaba is a blast to play. “She’s a really cool girl, and I get to go on this great journey with her. It’s really great to see her grow. She’s bullied, but she comes out on top.

Producer Marc Platt says he and the rest of the “Wicked” team knew they had something special early on with “Wicked.” They just didn’t know how special. Platt imagined the show would last maybe five years on Broadway and then go on one national tour. Now it’s nine years running and on its second national tour, and there’s also a movie in the works.

“Nobody can predict a phenomenon,” he says. “We thought it would do well. But I don’t think any of us could have imagined the enormity of it.”

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